PPL plan to upgrade power line goes to PUC

PPL Electric Utilities has submitted the Northeast-Pocono Reliability Project to the state Public Utility Commission for approval, the company said Friday.

PPL Electric Utilities has submitted the Northeast-Pocono Reliability Project to the state Public Utility Commission for approval, the company said Friday.

The project will improve electric service for 250,000 people in northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos. It will involve construction of three new electrical substations and a new 230-kilovolt power line through Wayne County.

The new power line will be about 58 miles long. It will connect the new electrical substations to the existing high-voltage grid, strengthening the local electric delivery network. The 230-kilovolt transmission line would begin at an existing substation in Jenkins, north of Wilkes-Barre, and run southeast through Luzerne County to a new substation at West Pocono, north of Blakeslee.

From there, the line would veer to the northeast across Lackawanna County before reaching a new substation at North Pocono. The last leg of the new line would run through Wayne County to a new substation at Paupack.

Stephanie Raymond, PPL Electric Utilities Transmission and Substation vice president, said, "It will reduce the number of power outages experienced by our customers, and also will reduce the duration of outages caused by falling trees or severe weather."

The PUC review process generally takes about one year, with opportunities for local residents to comment.

The project addresses the issue of the existing network of 69-kilovolt power lines in this area. These lines are no longer adequate and are up to 40 miles long, exposing customers to more frequent and longer service outages if lines are damaged during storms.

The project, which will cost about $200 million, will serve customers in parts of Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne, Pike, Carbon and Luzerne counties.

Information about this project can be found at pplreliablepower.com/northeast-pocono.